Monday, January 15, 2007
What Pregnancy Rules Do You Break?
I was talking with Jenn Saturday night about all the "pregnancy rules". Her doctor is much stricter than mine is... or at least, than my old OB was. Actually, come to think of it, I never really asked my doctors much about things I could and couldn't do. I read it all in "What to Expect" and on the internet. The only thing I ever ask my OB with regard to "the rules" is about medication. That's one thing I'm pretty paranoid about. I took Pepto Bismol (category c) before I knew I was pregnant with Ben and didn't stop worrying about it until he came out!
So anyway, here are my confessions and excuses. (I'll be looking forward to yours so I don't feel like such a bad pregnant woman!) ;)
* I drink caffeine. Never stopped. (with either pregnancy) Though I would say I naturally had to drastically cut back because coffee just does not have the same appeal to me that it does when I am not pregnant. Plus, things that contain caffeine tend to give me heartburn. If I feel like risking the heartburn though, I don't think twice about having a coke, or even the occasional Starbucks/Panera mocha, when I can keep it down. I've always read it's fine in moderation, 1-2 cups of coffee a day. And I don't get anywhere close to that.
* I eat lunchmeat. (Ben was practically built out of Subway subs... this baby, not so much, but I have had a few turkey sandwiches, including the one Val mentioned in the comments from Panera) I'm SO paranoid about meat anyway. At home, even NOT pregnant, I'll only eat it the day we buy it or the day after. We also generally buy the store-roasted turkey that is sliced right off the breast when you order it, which I think is different than deli meat anyway. I did recently see a "Baby Story" though about a woman who lost a baby at 18 weeks to listeria, which freaked me out enough that I actually microwaved the deli turkey I had for lunch today. (gag) SO not worth it when it's been nuked.
* I carry stuff. My life doesn't stop for me to be pregnant. I will say I was pretty careful the first eight weeks or so... but now? Hello? I have a 32-pound-two-year-old. I make him walk most of the time now, but there are times he needs to be picked up. I also have to use the vacuum cleaner and do laundry and bring in groceries, none of which are going to carry themselves up the stairs. I try to lift with the knees and all that blah blah... and so far, so good. I'm hoping I find out soon that this placenta thing has cleared up because if it persists, by 30 weeks I won't be able to anything like that and I will GO INSANE.
* I eat the "banned' cheese... well, feta anyway. I gave up feta (my favoritist cheese in the whole world) the ENTIRE time I was pregnant with Ben, only to find out that feta cheese bought in the U.S. have to be pasteurized and are generally safe. Europe is a different story, or so I hear. I'm not attached enough to any other soft cheese to really care one way or the other, so I just don't eat them.
* I paint. I know, shoot me. But if I don't do it, it's not going to get done, at least not the way I want it. My husband holds a paintbrush like Ben does. It's not pretty. I use latex, I open windows, I turn on fans, and I only work in short increments. I certainly wouldn't paint in the first trimester, because the worry is about birth defects. Once fingers and toes have been counted though, I just don't see the problem. Apparently, it's controversial... I choose to agree with what this site says.
*I use the home doppler. I do NOT believe it fries my baby's cells. (?!?!) Once again, I hold Ben up as evidence that even using a doppler every day from 10 weeks - 20'something weeks, he turned out fine. A little energetic, but otherwise fine. ;) I will also get an elective 3D ultrasound again! (some people are all freaked out by those too)
I DO follow the "no emptying the cat box" rule because HA! Who wants to do that anyway? I started following that rule with Ben and have never emptied the litter box since. ;) I'd do it if I had to though, since I've had cats for years and am likely immune. But shh... don't tell Tom.
I DON'T eat sushi (the raw fish version) or lox because that just seems like common sense. But I don't like those anyway, so I don't feel like I'm missing anything. I always eat California rolls anyway, and those are still safe.
I try to only eat tuna once a week... but MAN I could eat that every. single. day.
I don't drink, not even a single drop. But then again, I'm not a drinker anyway... I hear you can safely have a glass of wine once you hit your second trimester! (just learned that one... who knew?!) Strangely, since I have been pregnant, I have been craving a beer. (I have never had more than two sips of beer in my ENTIRE LIFE and normally find it revolting) What's THAT about?!
Edited to Add:
Bree's comment reminded me of another one... the prenatals. OY. I REALLY got lax with Ben. This time, I was determined to do better and was taking the vanilla flavored gag-ariffic prescription horse pills until about a month ago. I ran out though and lost the prescription my dr. wrote me at the last appoitnemnt. So I've been taking my Target brand ones... and somewhat sporatically lately. I was WAY more sporatic with Ben though and again... please note that he is fine. ;) I take some solace in the fact that I eat TONS and TONS of fruit and veggies since that seems to be what I crave. I eat creamed spinach for dinner at least twice a week these days... spinach salads, giant bowls of mixed veggies... bring 'em on!
Okay, your turn. Come on, make me feel better!
Stay tuned for the next installment: "New Baby Rules I Break" ;)
So anyway, here are my confessions and excuses. (I'll be looking forward to yours so I don't feel like such a bad pregnant woman!) ;)
* I drink caffeine. Never stopped. (with either pregnancy) Though I would say I naturally had to drastically cut back because coffee just does not have the same appeal to me that it does when I am not pregnant. Plus, things that contain caffeine tend to give me heartburn. If I feel like risking the heartburn though, I don't think twice about having a coke, or even the occasional Starbucks/Panera mocha, when I can keep it down. I've always read it's fine in moderation, 1-2 cups of coffee a day. And I don't get anywhere close to that.
* I eat lunchmeat. (Ben was practically built out of Subway subs... this baby, not so much, but I have had a few turkey sandwiches, including the one Val mentioned in the comments from Panera) I'm SO paranoid about meat anyway. At home, even NOT pregnant, I'll only eat it the day we buy it or the day after. We also generally buy the store-roasted turkey that is sliced right off the breast when you order it, which I think is different than deli meat anyway. I did recently see a "Baby Story" though about a woman who lost a baby at 18 weeks to listeria, which freaked me out enough that I actually microwaved the deli turkey I had for lunch today. (gag) SO not worth it when it's been nuked.
* I carry stuff. My life doesn't stop for me to be pregnant. I will say I was pretty careful the first eight weeks or so... but now? Hello? I have a 32-pound-two-year-old. I make him walk most of the time now, but there are times he needs to be picked up. I also have to use the vacuum cleaner and do laundry and bring in groceries, none of which are going to carry themselves up the stairs. I try to lift with the knees and all that blah blah... and so far, so good. I'm hoping I find out soon that this placenta thing has cleared up because if it persists, by 30 weeks I won't be able to anything like that and I will GO INSANE.
* I eat the "banned' cheese... well, feta anyway. I gave up feta (my favoritist cheese in the whole world) the ENTIRE time I was pregnant with Ben, only to find out that feta cheese bought in the U.S. have to be pasteurized and are generally safe. Europe is a different story, or so I hear. I'm not attached enough to any other soft cheese to really care one way or the other, so I just don't eat them.
* I paint. I know, shoot me. But if I don't do it, it's not going to get done, at least not the way I want it. My husband holds a paintbrush like Ben does. It's not pretty. I use latex, I open windows, I turn on fans, and I only work in short increments. I certainly wouldn't paint in the first trimester, because the worry is about birth defects. Once fingers and toes have been counted though, I just don't see the problem. Apparently, it's controversial... I choose to agree with what this site says.
*I use the home doppler. I do NOT believe it fries my baby's cells. (?!?!) Once again, I hold Ben up as evidence that even using a doppler every day from 10 weeks - 20'something weeks, he turned out fine. A little energetic, but otherwise fine. ;) I will also get an elective 3D ultrasound again! (some people are all freaked out by those too)
I DO follow the "no emptying the cat box" rule because HA! Who wants to do that anyway? I started following that rule with Ben and have never emptied the litter box since. ;) I'd do it if I had to though, since I've had cats for years and am likely immune. But shh... don't tell Tom.
I DON'T eat sushi (the raw fish version) or lox because that just seems like common sense. But I don't like those anyway, so I don't feel like I'm missing anything. I always eat California rolls anyway, and those are still safe.
I try to only eat tuna once a week... but MAN I could eat that every. single. day.
I don't drink, not even a single drop. But then again, I'm not a drinker anyway... I hear you can safely have a glass of wine once you hit your second trimester! (just learned that one... who knew?!) Strangely, since I have been pregnant, I have been craving a beer. (I have never had more than two sips of beer in my ENTIRE LIFE and normally find it revolting) What's THAT about?!
Edited to Add:
Bree's comment reminded me of another one... the prenatals. OY. I REALLY got lax with Ben. This time, I was determined to do better and was taking the vanilla flavored gag-ariffic prescription horse pills until about a month ago. I ran out though and lost the prescription my dr. wrote me at the last appoitnemnt. So I've been taking my Target brand ones... and somewhat sporatically lately. I was WAY more sporatic with Ben though and again... please note that he is fine. ;) I take some solace in the fact that I eat TONS and TONS of fruit and veggies since that seems to be what I crave. I eat creamed spinach for dinner at least twice a week these days... spinach salads, giant bowls of mixed veggies... bring 'em on!
Okay, your turn. Come on, make me feel better!
Stay tuned for the next installment: "New Baby Rules I Break" ;)
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Oh I break the rules too :) I eat lunchmeat..never thought twice not to even though I have heard its bad..I just dont it if its a week old. I still do caffeine. Well I cut back to almost none early on, then started drinking more as I got futher along..still always in moderation :)I might have a little more now but I am at the end..I can. haha I used the home doppler too..and I eat tuna..with Easton I craved it and had it twice a week or so..this time every once in awhile. Oh the big rule breaker..I forget to take my prenatals ALL THE TIME with this baby. I bet that will make you feel better ;) haha
I feel like I may have mentioned some of this stuff over on my blog, but if it will make you feel better:
I eat turkey sandwiches from Panera. I have coffee - though the stuff I make at home is "half-caff" but I get the full-test stuff at Starbucks on occasion. I worried about the cheese thing for a split second, until I saw that most cheeses (if not all) sold in the US are pasturized. I'm with ya on Feta, but I also love fresh Mozzarella.
I do have an occassional glass of wine. I was a BIG drinker before the positive pee stick. Not an alcoholic or anything, but I enjoyed the weekly or bi-weekly night out. I haven't had a beer, though, since being pg and haven't really been missing it. I'll stick to my white wine.
I lift things, too. I don't always get enough sleep. I've probably taken one or two naps since getting pg. I don't always eat three square meals a day - but to my defense, I'm not always hungry. I sometimes don't eat lunch until 3p.m., and then I'm not really hungry for dinner.
I did empty the cat box once. I've had my cat for 8 years. If he has toxoplasmosis, then I've had it. He's an indoor cat, though, so most likely he doesn't have it. And I washed my hands thoroughly after scooping the poop.
I don't ask my doctor any questions, except one about my weight gain. My usual migraines have gone away with pg, so I haven't had to be concerned with taking medication.
I don't eat raw sushi when not pg, but I have had a california roll or two this pg. And loved every bite. I don't always drink enough water. I have eaten tuna. As recently as this Saturday. But not that often.
That's probably long, and all I can think of right now. I sometimes think I'm the opposite of the typical first-time preggo. I read the books, I know what's good and what's okay to do. So kill me if I have an occassional glass of wine. :-)
I eat turkey sandwiches from Panera. I have coffee - though the stuff I make at home is "half-caff" but I get the full-test stuff at Starbucks on occasion. I worried about the cheese thing for a split second, until I saw that most cheeses (if not all) sold in the US are pasturized. I'm with ya on Feta, but I also love fresh Mozzarella.
I do have an occassional glass of wine. I was a BIG drinker before the positive pee stick. Not an alcoholic or anything, but I enjoyed the weekly or bi-weekly night out. I haven't had a beer, though, since being pg and haven't really been missing it. I'll stick to my white wine.
I lift things, too. I don't always get enough sleep. I've probably taken one or two naps since getting pg. I don't always eat three square meals a day - but to my defense, I'm not always hungry. I sometimes don't eat lunch until 3p.m., and then I'm not really hungry for dinner.
I did empty the cat box once. I've had my cat for 8 years. If he has toxoplasmosis, then I've had it. He's an indoor cat, though, so most likely he doesn't have it. And I washed my hands thoroughly after scooping the poop.
I don't ask my doctor any questions, except one about my weight gain. My usual migraines have gone away with pg, so I haven't had to be concerned with taking medication.
I don't eat raw sushi when not pg, but I have had a california roll or two this pg. And loved every bite. I don't always drink enough water. I have eaten tuna. As recently as this Saturday. But not that often.
That's probably long, and all I can think of right now. I sometimes think I'm the opposite of the typical first-time preggo. I read the books, I know what's good and what's okay to do. So kill me if I have an occassional glass of wine. :-)
I drank caffeine with both pgs, though considerably less with Isaac. I needed to drink more with Jacob to keep up with a crazy toddler monkey.
And of course I lifted his fat tush while I was pregnant with Jacob.
And I ate lunchmeat, but not as much as I had before.
With Jacob, I kept forgetting to take my prenatals. I felt really stupid about that, but obviously he isn't broken.
Like you, I abstained from the cat-box cleaning and from alcohol, and I called my OB before taking any cold medicine. I had horrible head colds while late in pg with each one and I suffered through them unmedicated. It was agony.
And of course I lifted his fat tush while I was pregnant with Jacob.
And I ate lunchmeat, but not as much as I had before.
With Jacob, I kept forgetting to take my prenatals. I felt really stupid about that, but obviously he isn't broken.
Like you, I abstained from the cat-box cleaning and from alcohol, and I called my OB before taking any cold medicine. I had horrible head colds while late in pg with each one and I suffered through them unmedicated. It was agony.
goodness...over here in england i have never heard the no 'lunchmeat' thing! i too had a sandwich or subway most days when at work!
when pregnant with #1 i had a coke almost everyday. choc has caffeine so i had that quite a bit as well.
prenatal pills made me gag and i would usually just throw up afterwards so i stopped taking them around 2 months!
but hey! i have 2 perfect babies so 'who cares'!!!
when pregnant with #1 i had a coke almost everyday. choc has caffeine so i had that quite a bit as well.
prenatal pills made me gag and i would usually just throw up afterwards so i stopped taking them around 2 months!
but hey! i have 2 perfect babies so 'who cares'!!!
heh...still not pregnant, but i totally have ed trained to take care of the litter box, "just in case." ;)
I can't give up my morning coffee. I have about 1 cup. I also drink cola b/c it helps with the nausea. At this point, I don't care about the caffeine. I care more about not puking.
I did have the occasional glass of wine. My doctor told me that after the first trimester (thirteen weeks), it was OK to have ONE drink, never more than one, and never two days in a row. If I were going to indulge, it would be on Friday and/or Sunday. Or not. But it was nice to know that I could. I also drank coffee, but I tried to remember to get the decaf. Of course, I made up for it with all the chocolate that I ate (yum).
My husband still changes the cat litter boxes, even though my daughter is almost two and a half. I'm probably immune as well, since I've had cats since I was a child. But shhh, let's not tell him.
My husband still changes the cat litter boxes, even though my daughter is almost two and a half. I'm probably immune as well, since I've had cats since I was a child. But shhh, let's not tell him.
Fortunately, my doctor didn't give me any rules. He said caffeine is fine, lifting weights is fine, lunch meat is fine...etc. So, I have no guilt.
However, people treat me like I'm sick or something. If I'll chase after Laney they'll say, "don't do that...your pregnant!" If I pick up something they'll say the same thing. I just say, "I'm pregnant...not sick!"
However, people treat me like I'm sick or something. If I'll chase after Laney they'll say, "don't do that...your pregnant!" If I pick up something they'll say the same thing. I just say, "I'm pregnant...not sick!"
Erin, I can safely say that I did the same things as you. I don't have a cat so that one was pretty much exempt for me. The first four months of pregnancy (both times) I lived on Dr. Pepper, Cheese crackers, and zofran. I also lost weight because I threw up so much and my doctor said to eat whatever I could keep down.
I also ate medium rare steak which they told me was a no-no the next go round.
Oh, and I rode in the boat a good bit as I really adn truly had no clue I was not supposed to.
I also ate medium rare steak which they told me was a no-no the next go round.
Oh, and I rode in the boat a good bit as I really adn truly had no clue I was not supposed to.
Check. Check. And? Check.
Except that I gave up caffeine both pregnancies. And also sex. Gave that up, too. :-)
Except that I gave up caffeine both pregnancies. And also sex. Gave that up, too. :-)
Didn't give up caffeine although did reduce it towards the end as it gave me horrible heartburn.
Didn't give up alcohol (I can see everyone in the US GASPING with horror at that, but here in the UK until very recently the advice was always never more than 1-2 units at a time once a week - and not until after the first trimester. Both boys totally fine :) )
Didn't give up runny eggs. Again, not sure how the rules coincide between countries, but due to risks of salmonella pregnant women are only supposed to eat eggs fully cooked through... sod that. How else are you to dip toast into the yolk, eh? Always made sure I had lion-marked eggs (hens innoculated against salmonella) and well within date though just to be safe.
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Didn't give up alcohol (I can see everyone in the US GASPING with horror at that, but here in the UK until very recently the advice was always never more than 1-2 units at a time once a week - and not until after the first trimester. Both boys totally fine :) )
Didn't give up runny eggs. Again, not sure how the rules coincide between countries, but due to risks of salmonella pregnant women are only supposed to eat eggs fully cooked through... sod that. How else are you to dip toast into the yolk, eh? Always made sure I had lion-marked eggs (hens innoculated against salmonella) and well within date though just to be safe.
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